News 08:00

BULLETIN 8 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# John Steenhuisen and president Ramaphosa are in discussion over potential changes to the DA’s Cabinet posts
# No US officials will be attending the G20 in South Africa
# And in cricket, the ODI-series between Proteas and Pakistan will be decided today

# Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has confirmed that president Cyril Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen have been in discussions over potential changes to the DA’s Cabinet positions. News24 reports that Steenhuisen wants the minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Dion George, to be replaced by party spokesperson Willie Aucamp. Steenhuisen also wants DA MP Alex Abrahams to be appointed as new deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, replacing Andrew Whitfield who was fired by Ramaphosa earlier this year. Magwenya declined to comment further, saying an announcement will be made when the time is ready.

# President Donald Trump announced that no US officials would attend the Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this month, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers. Trump posted on his Truth Social network it’s a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa.  The Trump administration has long accused the South African government of discriminating against its white minority, citing alleged land seizures and violence. The South African government has denied this. According to Reuters vice president JD Vance will now not attend the event.

# The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has finalised a three-year wage agreement across-the-board for tyre manufacturing, running from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028. Hourly-paid employees in grades 1 to 7 will see annual increases. Workers below maximum pay will receive additional annual increases. Numsa’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says an Industry Housing Fund contribution of ten-cents per hour from employers and employees was also secured:

# Sasol announced significant progress in the development of a Methane Rich Gas or MRG supply solution aimed at ensuring continuity of gas supply to the South African market beyond June 2028. As natural gas production from Mozambique declines, Sasol has proactively explored alternative solutions to bridge the anticipated supply gap. Sasol will be supplying MRG from its Secunda operations from July 2028 to June 2030. It added the initiative is part of Sasol’s broader strategy to safeguard the gas market and enable a smooth transition to Liquefied Natural Gas as a long-term solution.

# Cricket: The one-day series between South Africa and Pakistan will be decided in the final match of the tour in Faisalabad today. The hosts won Tuesday’s first encounter by two wickets off the second-last ball. On Thursday, the Proteas struck back with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the second game, spearheaded by opener Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 123, Tony de Zorzi’s unbeaten 76 and Lhuan-dré Pretorius’s 46. Nandré Burger claimed four wickets. Pakistan won the T20 series one-all after the two-match Test series ended in a draw.

# And finally, the Western Cape has declared Mount David Nature Reserve, an eight-hundred-hectare sanctuary of threatened ecosystems and endangered species near Hermanus in the Overberg. Formerly known as Diepgat, it was restored over 17 years by Antony van Hoogstraten, transforming farmland into wetlands and pristine fynbos. Capenature’s Luk Folb, says critically endangered plants and the Moonlight Mountain Toadlet thrive here. CapeNature, Bionerds, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust facilitated its protection, adding to the province’s growing network of biodiversity-rich reserves:

Stay tuned for more news………….